Cupgrass

Also called wiregrass, cupgrass is native to southern Arizona. It has hairless stems, the leaf blades are flat and smooth, 1/2" wide and 2-5 inches long. When mature Southwest cupgrass is 1-4 feet tall, bright green stems have two to five joints where rooting sometimes occurs. The flowering portion has hairy greenish or purple flower groups. The dark cuplike ring at the base of each spikelet gives the grass its name. Remove before it produces seed. Hoe or pull in spring, mulch to prevent seeds that are already in the soil from germinating. Use a pre-emergence herbicide and control with herbicidal soap. Kill with a heat activated product containing glyphosate.